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A heart (or home) overflowing with thanksgiving might seem impossible. But one little habit can help moms and their kids grow in gratitude.
“Ewwww. Why do we have to eat that for breakfast?!!!”
“Who used my comb? I hate when people take my comb!”
“Get out of my way! You are always in my way. Why can’t people just pay closer attention?!!”
“There’s none left?!!!! Who ate the rest of the cereal? I didn’t get any!! I never get any of what I want!!!
Any of that sound familiar to you?
I kid you not, Before 8 am this morning, I heard every single one of those phrases spew from the mouths of my precious children. It’s usually around this time of year that I comment on how sweet my kids are … when they’re sleeping. 😉😂
The older I grow, the more I realize that November is the perfect month for the American Thanksgiving holiday, and I’m thankful it falls in November, rather than a sunny, happy month like June. 😆
November in Chicagoland means the weather grows colder, the darkness arrives earlier, and the sky shows more gray and rain than blues and sun.
Our hearts seems to match our skies. It’s not just the kids, but us parents too. Our whole family finds ourselves tired, overwhelmed, and quick to whine, argue, or complain. We desperately need the reminder to be thankful.
Over 144 times in the Bible, God encourages us to give thanks and live with thankful hearts. Research sheds a little light on why being thankful is God’s will for us (1 Thessalonians 5:18) :: Being thankful is simply the best way to live!
- Want to improve your sleep? Grow in empathy? Reduce aggression and irritability? Practice being thankful.
- Want to recuperate faster, become more emotionally healthy, and experience better relationships? Give thanks in all circumstances!
How often we’re looking for a quick fix in our homes. Well, Moms, we have one :: start being thankful.
I realize it’s a lot easier said than done. On some days and in certain seasons, choosing to be thankful is a fight — it takes faith to be faithful in thankfulness.
But whatever the season, let’s start. And rather than telling ourselves to be more thankful — and then feeling guilty and ashamed when we aren’t — let’s jump in and do it.
Instead of telling our kids to grow in gratitude — which for the record, usually falls on deaf ears — let’s lead them in the habit.
I want to make this easy and sustainable, so I’m sharing what has helped me. Print this free journal page I created and begin each day (1) renewing your mind with the truth of God’s Word and (2) following through on what the Bible says by thanking God for His goodness and His good gifts to us.
Both my oldest daughter and I have so appreciated using this simple page in our individual quiet time.
The journal page includes daily Scripture reading and space to record your gratitude. Praying it is a blessing to you!
For the Hearts in Your Home
As we’ve worked to cultivate an attitude of gratitude in our heart and home, we’ve used these fall cut outs with the Scripture reading plan. The kids will write or draw their gratitude for the day and hang theirs on the window. By the end of the month, our picture window in the kitchen looked like a giant, gratitude leaf pile! Other years, we made trees of gratitude. This year, though, we’re going to use these Kraft paper cutouts to make a banner for our mantle.
It’s amazing what this little tradition has done to refocus our hearts and home! We hope you’ll join us in making this a regular part of your November celebrations!!
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